Atomic-Scale Confined Synthesis of Ultrathin W2C Nanowires in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for the High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Zichu Zhang; Rui Hong Xie; Xuefeng Liang; Feng Zhang; Hao Yang; Meng Ke Zou; Lili Zhang; Chao Shi; Hui Ming Cheng; Leining Zhang; Chang Liu

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01381

Atomic-Scale Confined Synthesis of Ultrathin W₂C Nanowires in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for the High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Zichu Zhang, Rui Hong Xie, Xuefeng Liang, Feng Zhang^*, Hao Yang, Meng Ke Zou, Lili Zhang, Chao Shi, Hui Ming Cheng, Leining Zhang^*, Chang Liu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Phase-pure ultrafine W₂C nanostructures are promising electrocatalysts but face synthesis challenges due to unclear formation mechanisms and harsh thermodynamics. Here, we reveal the formation mechanism of ultrathin W₂C nanowires (NWs) confined in the cavity of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at the atomic scale by combined in situ transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations. It was found that the hollow core of SWCNTs can control the phase, axial orientation, and diameter of W₂C NWs. Leveraging this mechanism, we synthesized SWCNT-encapsulated W₂C NWs, WS₂-W₂C heterostructures, and WS₂ NWs (1D@1D), which assembled into free-standing hybrid films. The integrated W₂C NWs@SWCNT membrane was primarily tested, exhibiting a low overpotential of 44 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 and outstanding durability (500 h at a high current density of 250 mA cm^-2 in acidic conditions).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8612-8618
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nano Letters
Volume	25
Issue number	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01381
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

confined growth mechanism
hydrogen evolution reaction
one-dimensional nanowires
single-wall carbon nanotube
tungsten carbide

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10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01381

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title = "Atomic-Scale Confined Synthesis of Ultrathin W2C Nanowires in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for the High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction",

abstract = "Phase-pure ultrafine W2C nanostructures are promising electrocatalysts but face synthesis challenges due to unclear formation mechanisms and harsh thermodynamics. Here, we reveal the formation mechanism of ultrathin W2C nanowires (NWs) confined in the cavity of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at the atomic scale by combined in situ transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations. It was found that the hollow core of SWCNTs can control the phase, axial orientation, and diameter of W2C NWs. Leveraging this mechanism, we synthesized SWCNT-encapsulated W2C NWs, WS2-W2C heterostructures, and WS2 NWs (1D@1D), which assembled into free-standing hybrid films. The integrated W2C NWs@SWCNT membrane was primarily tested, exhibiting a low overpotential of 44 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and outstanding durability (500 h at a high current density of 250 mA cm-2 in acidic conditions).",

keywords = "confined growth mechanism, hydrogen evolution reaction, one-dimensional nanowires, single-wall carbon nanotube, tungsten carbide",

author = "Zichu Zhang and Xie, {Rui Hong} and Xuefeng Liang and Feng Zhang and Hao Yang and Zou, {Meng Ke} and Lili Zhang and Chao Shi and Cheng, {Hui Ming} and Leining Zhang and Chang Liu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01381",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

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journal = "Nano Letters",

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T1 - Atomic-Scale Confined Synthesis of Ultrathin W2C Nanowires in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for the High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

AU - Zhang, Zichu

AU - Xie, Rui Hong

AU - Liang, Xuefeng

AU - Zhang, Feng

AU - Yang, Hao

AU - Zou, Meng Ke

AU - Zhang, Lili

AU - Shi, Chao

AU - Cheng, Hui Ming

AU - Zhang, Leining

AU - Liu, Chang

PY - 2025/5/28

Y1 - 2025/5/28

N2 - Phase-pure ultrafine W2C nanostructures are promising electrocatalysts but face synthesis challenges due to unclear formation mechanisms and harsh thermodynamics. Here, we reveal the formation mechanism of ultrathin W2C nanowires (NWs) confined in the cavity of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at the atomic scale by combined in situ transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations. It was found that the hollow core of SWCNTs can control the phase, axial orientation, and diameter of W2C NWs. Leveraging this mechanism, we synthesized SWCNT-encapsulated W2C NWs, WS2-W2C heterostructures, and WS2 NWs (1D@1D), which assembled into free-standing hybrid films. The integrated W2C NWs@SWCNT membrane was primarily tested, exhibiting a low overpotential of 44 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and outstanding durability (500 h at a high current density of 250 mA cm-2 in acidic conditions).

AB - Phase-pure ultrafine W2C nanostructures are promising electrocatalysts but face synthesis challenges due to unclear formation mechanisms and harsh thermodynamics. Here, we reveal the formation mechanism of ultrathin W2C nanowires (NWs) confined in the cavity of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at the atomic scale by combined in situ transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations. It was found that the hollow core of SWCNTs can control the phase, axial orientation, and diameter of W2C NWs. Leveraging this mechanism, we synthesized SWCNT-encapsulated W2C NWs, WS2-W2C heterostructures, and WS2 NWs (1D@1D), which assembled into free-standing hybrid films. The integrated W2C NWs@SWCNT membrane was primarily tested, exhibiting a low overpotential of 44 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and outstanding durability (500 h at a high current density of 250 mA cm-2 in acidic conditions).

KW - confined growth mechanism

KW - hydrogen evolution reaction

KW - one-dimensional nanowires

KW - single-wall carbon nanotube

KW - tungsten carbide

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DO - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01381

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ER -

Atomic-Scale Confined Synthesis of Ultrathin W₂C Nanowires in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for the High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

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Keywords

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